Interfaith Coalition Alerts Mass. Lawmakers to Radical Islamist Lobby Effort on Nov 12

BOSTON, Nov. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An interfaith coalition of Jewish, Christian and Muslim activists has written to all Massachusetts State Legislators, advising lawmakers that a radical organization, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), has organized a 'Muslim Day on the Hill' event taking place at the State House this Thursday.

Since 2009, the Justice Department has enforced a ban on working with CAIR, after a judge concluded, at the terrorism trial of the Holy Land Foundation: "The government has produced ample evidence to establish the associations of CAIR…with the Islamic Association for Palestine, and with Hamas." In 2014, the United Arab Emirates government designated CAIR as a terrorist organization.

CAIR established a new branch in Massachusetts earlier this year, with recently elected Cambridge councilor, Nadeem Mazen, as one of its founding directors.

Dr. Charles Jacobs, President of Americans for Peace and Tolerance, explains that challenging CAIR's attempts to become the voice of American Islam is crucial for interfaith relations: "Muslims, Christians and Jews in Massachusetts know that CAIR represents a radical Islamist movement. The federal government knows it and the courts know it. It is important that the politicians should know it as well."

Jacobs said, "Behind the many organizations, umbrella groups and lobbying bodies that claim to represent American Islam, a battle is being fought. Groups such as CAIR, in an attempt to shroud their radical connections and sanitize their past misdeeds, are working hard to present themselves as the political and moral voice of American Islam. It is vital that we do not legitimize CAIR as a voice of American Islam, or we risk marginalizing the historically moderate Muslim community and shutting out moderate groups in favor of the extremists."

Sheikh Muhammad Al-Hussaini, a prominent interfaith advocate, stated: "How long I wonder will it be before the government, church and other non-Muslim leaders recognize that by hosting unrepresentative but loud Islamist lobbies, you are betraying dissenting progressive voices within the Muslim community."

He added: "You are in fact supporting Islamists in their bulldozing through the diverse ecology of the Muslim community with its many opinions, and you are actively fostering the Muslim Brotherhood's charlatan claim to speak on behalf of all Muslims."

Dr. Jacobs concluded: "We ask Massachusetts lawmakers to meet with Boston's Muslims, but not with its Islamists."

SOURCE Americans for Peace and Tolerance

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